Slag pocket and method of draining the same



Jah. 26,1926.

F. ORTH SISJVAG POCKET AND METHOD OF DRAINING THE SAIE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Pda-rch 14,4 1923 Jan. 26; 1926.

F. ORTH SLAG POCKET AND METHOD oF DRAINING TH! SAIE med March 1 4. 192s.s sheets-snm' 2 E11/en 0r;

Jan. ze '1926, 1,570,704-

F. ORTH sLAGPocxET AND METHOD 0F DRAINING THB sus Filed March 14, 1923 5Sheets-Sheet s Jaya f @la Patented an. 26, '19726.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK OBTHTOF INDIANA w3, INDIANA.

Application lcd Iarch 14, 1923. Serial lo. WM5.

'/'o all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK ORTH, a citizen of the United States, residingat Indiana Harbor, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Im rovements in Slag Pockets and Methodso? Drainin the Same, of which the following is a speci cation.

The present invention has to d with improvements in the construction ofslag pockets and the methods of operating the same so as to ensureproper drainage and satisfactory operation at all times. The features ofthe invention are veryv well ada ted for use in connection with the slagpoc ets of open-hearth furnaces and the like,

\ although it will presently appear that the said features are notnecessarlly limited to use ir. this particular connection. However, forpurposes of convenience in illustration and description, I willillustrate and describe `the features of the invention as the same maybe conveniently applied to openhearth furnace construction.

In the construction of open-hearth furnaces, it is customary to provideair and gas down-comers at both ends of the furnace, said down-comersproviding communication between the respective ends of the furnace andthe corresponding regenerators or the like. On one half of each cycle ofthe blow, air und gaspass upwardly at one end of the furnace throughtheir respective downcomers7 while the spent gases are travelingdownwardly through the down-comers at the other end/of the furnace. Onthe other. half oi' the cycle, the operation is reversed, the air andgas passing upwardly through the down-comers at the second mentioned endof the furnace, and the spent gas passing downwardly' through thedown-comers at the first mentioned end of the furnace.

It is found that more or less fluid or'some fluid material, generallyslag and the like, is carried' over under intense draft, and is drivendown through the down-comers towards the rcgenerators. In order tocollect this material and prevent the same from reaching the reenerators or the passages leading thereto, 1t is usual to provide someform of slag pocket for each of the downcomers, into which slag pocketthe slag and other materials are, driven and collected. The customary'`practice has-heretofore been to extend each flown-comer ythe down-comerbeneath the sidewise connection to the regenerator assage constitutes 1neffect a trap of consi erable capacity' `within which the slag and thelike collects.

This arrangement presents a number of serious objections, among whichmay be enumerated a considerable increase in the cost of installation.Said increase in cost is occasioned, among other things, by reason ofthe necessity of extending the foundations downwardly a distancedepending upon the depth of the slag pockets so produced.

Another objection to the above mentioned construction is that n0provision is made for draining the slag pocket from time to time, butthe slag and other materials are simply allowed to collect within thepocket durmg an entire campaign or portion of campaign of the furnace.Thereupon, it is necessary to shut down the furnace, and, after allowingthe furnace to cool, to undertake the extremely difficult and hazardousoperation of cleaning out the accumulated materials.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a constructionof slag pocket which may be conveniently drained from time to timeduring the operation of the furnace, thus making it unnecessary toprovide for the accumulation of a large amount of material, and alsomaking it unnecessary to.provide a slag pocket of very large size.amount of labor is saved which would otherwise be necessary for`cleaning out the lslag pockets, and the furnace does `not have to standlidle for a long time in-order to cool down preparatory to the cleaningoperation.

On account of the manner in which the At the' same time the very largeered through the down-comer, it is not always convenient to drain themcontinuously,Vv

and consequently it is quite desirable tov provide for the laccumulationof said materials for a short time within an auxiliary pocket from whichthey may be cleaned out-,from time tc time withoutv lnterrupting theoperation of the furnace; I have, therefore, provided a constructionsuch that lthe said materials may collect for a period of timewithin anauxiliary pocket, which pocketfmay4 then loo downwardly a be isolatedfrom the down-comer.l and .11

and other materials in molten condition, or 1 will bring said materialsinto molten condition, so that they will properly drain intotheauxiliary slag pocket.

On account of the fact that the introductionv of fresh air into the gasdown-comer mightresult in a serious explosionhit will be seen that meansshould be provided to ensure against the entrance of fresh air at suchpoint. I have, therefore, so arranged the parts that assurance may behad that Vany air entering the slag pocket will be consumed before itreaches the gas down-comer, to therebyvensure the elimination of freeoxygen.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detaileddescription of the same which consist in the features of constructionand combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings: f

Figure 1 shows a vertical section through the end portion of anopen-liearth furnace and the down-comers and connections to theregenerators, and it shows applied to said connections slag pocketsembodying the features of the said invention;

Fig. 2 shows in enlarged detail the slag pocket on the gas side of theconstruction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows in enlarged detail the slag pocket on the air side of theconstruction shown in Fig. 1, the pocket shown in Fig. 3 being reversedin position from that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, lookingin tlie direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 shows a vertical section through a modified form of pocket;

Fig. 6 shows a face view of the pocket shown in section in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 shows a vertical section through another forni of pocketembodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 8 shows an elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 shows a vertical section through another modified form ofconstruction embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 10 shows a vertical section through still another niodiied forni ofconstruction embodying the featues of the present vinvention; and

Fig. 11 shows a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 5, being asection taken on line 11.-11 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of thearrows.

Referring now to the several figures, the open hearth furnace -isdesignated by the numeral 12. At the end, which is illustrated in Fig.1, it is provided with a gas downcomer 13 and an air down-comer 14. Thelower ends of these down-comers will be connected sidewise through theports 15 and 16, respectively, to the gas and air regenerators. Thebridge walls at the lower edges of these ports are designated by thenumerals 17 and 18, respectively.

In the usual type of construction each of the down-comers is extendedbelow the corresponding edge 17 or 18 a veryconsiderable distance'so asto provide a pocket of very large capacity within which the slag andother similar material may collect without the possibility of the saidmaterial passing through the iegenerator ports into the regeneratorchambers. In carrying into effect the features of the present invention,I have provided constructions whereby the said pockets of large capacitymay be eliminated if desired, or whereb the said pockets may be retainedif desired and used in conjunction with the features presently to bedescribed. Ordinarily, however, the lower surface or floor of the slagpocket, when using the features of the present invention, will be onlyslightly below the corresponding edge 17 or 18, and`I have illustratedsuch constructions in the several Iigures.

The lines 19 and 20, in Fig. 1, designate the floors of the main slagpockets for the down-comers 13 and 14 respectively. Said floors are onlyslightly below the lower edges 17 and 18 respectively of thecorresponding regenerator ports. On the gas side the main slag pocket 21leads sidewise by a connection 22 to the auxiliary slag pockeiJ 23,whereas on the air side the main slag pocket 24 leads by a connection 25to the auxiliary slag pocket 26. The doors 27, 28, 29, and 30 giveaccess to the several slag pockets 21, 23, 24, and 26, respectively.These doors may be of any suitable construction, but a convenientconstruction is one in which the doors may be raised and loweredvertically, as illustrated in the several figures.

The floors 19 and 20 of the main slag pockets preferably slant towardsthe corresponding auxiliary pockets, so that the slag and other moltenmaterial will readily drain into the auxiliary pockets. Consequently,only a small amount of 'material will collect at one time in the mainpockets, from which it will immediately drain into the auxiliarypockets. The result is that by opening the doors 28 and 30 the accumujlated material may be removed from time to means for intr ucingfuel atthe desired point for generating heat within or adjacent to the pocketsso as to fuse the said material. In the construction shown in Figs. 1and 2, said means takes the form yof a pipe 31 whereby gas or liquidfuel may be introduced directly into the passage 22 under the cont-rolof the valve 32. In other cases it may be 'desired to make use o f coalor other like solid fuel for this purpose. I have, therefore,illustrated in Fig. 2 an embankment or pile of coal or coke 33 on' thelower outer corner of the slag material 34, so that by burning the saidfuel, the desired heat will be generated. This fuel maybe burned by theintroduction of air through a pipe 35 Aunder the control of a valve 36,or the air may be introduced through the sight hole 36a. The air passingupwardly along the passage 22 will strike the coal or the like 33 andAburn the same, so that by the time the gases reach the down-comer 13,there will be present no free oxygen, such as might otherwise causecombustion of the gases or explosion of the same. The slag materialswhich are fused by the heat thus generated, will run down into theauxiliary pocket 23. In Figs. 5 and 6, I have illustrated a constructionsomewhat similar to that just described. However, in this case theconnect-ion 37 extending between the mainpocket 38 and the auxiliarypocket 39 is vertical, so that yaplate 40 may be slid over the upper endof said connection, as shown in Figs. 5 and 11, for the purpose oftemporarily isolating the auxiliary ocket from the main pocket. In thisway, t e auxiliary pocket can be entirely cut off from the down-comerduring the cleaning operation, so that no air will enter the down-comeratthat time. Thus the furnace willl not be chilled, and free oxygen willnot be admitted to the gas side. similar arrangement is shown in thecon+ struction of Fig. 3, but in that case a block 41 is seated directlyacross the upper end of the auxiliary pocket. A c

In the construction shown in Fig. 7, the

-slag material 42 is allowed to collect until it reaches the level ofthe discharge spout 43. Thereupon-it will dischar e from time to timeprovided it be in su ciently fluid condition. A nozzle 44 is illustratedin the said figure for introducing fluid fuel or air as for the purposeof burning 43 .so as to keep the slag, etc., 1n molten conditlon.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1l), a

coke or coall somewhat similar construction is illustrated, but in thearrangement of that figure, the spout V46 is provided with a number ofair openings 47 and with a bottom drainage opening 48. A pipe 49 isshown for the introduction of air or Huid fuel. A platol 46"L coversover the top of the spout to prevent radiation of heat and chilling ofthe slag.

It will be observed from an examination of each of the severalconstructions above described, that the floor of the main pocket isbelow the elevation of the lower edge of the port leading to theregenerator chamber, whereas the floor of the main pocket in each caseis at a sutlicient elevation to ensure proper drainage of the slag. Insome casos it may be desired to adapt the features oi the presentinvention to constructions already installed, wherein there are providedvery deep slag pockets in the lower ends of the down-comers. When it isdesired to so adapt the features of the invention, this may be readilydone by providing the auX- iliary pocket and the drainage ports at thedesired elevation in the outer wall of the down-comer, and then allowingthe furnace to run for a sufficient length of time to lill up the lowerportion of the down-comer by the accumulation of slag material. Forexample, in the constructions shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5, 9, and 10, thespace 50 between the dotted lines 51 and 52 represents the space whichwill be -lled in by the accumulation of slag material in the lowerportion of the down-comer. After such accumulation has taken place, thepocket will operate according to the features of the present lnvention,draining according to the manner herein set forth.

I have heretofore mentioned the fact that fuel and the like may beintroduced into the slag pocket for the purpose of keeping the slag andother materials in molten condition, so that they can be readilydrained. At times it may also be desirable to introduce flux materialsin addition to the fuel, or in pla-ce of the fuel, so as to assist inkeeping the slag and the like in molten condi- A tion. In some cases,when coal or coke is used as the fuel, the same will contain asuiiicien't amount of ash and the like to properly fluxv the slag, etc.,without the necessity of adding a separate luxing material. Therefore, Icontemplate as being within the scope of my invention the use of anysuitable fuel or iiux materials or both. It is frequently desirable toiux the materials contained Within the slag pocket vso as to ensure thatthey will? more easily fiow over into the auxiliary slag pocket, thuskeeping the slag pocket and adjoining parts relatively clear andunobstructed at all times. Another benefit which will be secured fromthis method of operation is that the material which will find its wayinto the auxiliary slag pocket will be a mixture of slag, flux material,ore, ctc., which can be more easily-broken up than a solid chunk or cakeof ordinary slag material.

Referring to the construction shown iu Figs.' 7 served that it is verydesirable to keep the slag, etc., in' molten condition as the same isdelivered/fron'i the spouts 43 and 46 shown in the said figures.Consequently, it is very desirable to consume a portion of the fueldirectly adjacent to the said spouts. This may be done in some cases bythe introduction of fluid fuel through pipes 44 and 49, or in othercases fuel suoli as coal or coke may be consumed in'imediately adjacentthe said spouts for the purpose indicated.

llVhile I have previously mentioned slag and the like as being carriedover with the air blast from the furnace, it will be understood that thefeatures of the present invention are intended to refer to thecollection of any material which will normally' gather in the slagpocket, including, for example, material which may be melted off fromthe side walls of the down-comers themselves and overflow from thefurnace bath.

Reference to several of the figures will disclose sight-holes in thedoors or closures of the slag pockets and the auxiliary pockets. Thesemay be closed in any suitable manner, as, for example, by the use ofsmall plates which are pivoted or hinged to the doors and normally fallinto the closed position. When desired, the said plates may be providedwith sight-holes so that the operations within the slag pockets may beobserved without the necessity of unn covering the openings.Furthermore, ordinarily, sufficient air for the combustion of the fuelintroduced into the slag ypockets will find its way through theseopenings so as to properly consume the said fuel.

Any suitable form of scraper or the like may be used during the cleaningoperation for the removal of the accumulative materials, both from theslag pocket and from the auxiliary pocket.

It will be observed that in certain of the constructions, notably thoseshown in Figs. 3, 5, and 11, that removable partitions or sills andy 41are shown interposed between the main slag pocket and the auxiliarypockets. These serve to isolate the auxiliary pockets from the mainpockets for whatever purpose may be desired. If the slag be allowed todrain continuously into the auxiliary pocket the best operatingconditions may not always be secured, and, in many cases, it may bedesirable to allow the slag tocollect in the main pocket for a number ofheats, after which the material so collected may be allowed to drain asa body into the auxiliary pocket. This deand 10 in particular, it willbe ob sir-able result may be secured byitemporarily isolating the mainpocket from the auxiliary pocket, as, for example, by the use ofpartitions such as those above mentioned.

I claim:

l. The combination with the down-comer 0f an open-hearth furnace or thelike, of a slag pocket in the lower portion of said downconier, therebeing an opening in said oiter wall giving access to the slag pocket, asuitable closure for said opening, 4an auxiliary slag pocket at a lowerlevel than the first mentioned slag pocket,'a connection from the lowerportion of the first mentioned slag pocketto the auxiliary slag pocket,there being an opening giving access to the auxiliary slag pocket, asuitable closure for said opening, means for introducing fuel or thelike into the first mentioned slag pocket for the purpose specified, andmeans for at times isolatingthe auxiliary slag pocket fromthe firstmentioned slag pocket.

2. The combination with the down-comer of an open-hearth furnace, of aslag pocket within said down-comer, there being an opening in the outerwall givin communication with v said slag poc et, a suitable closure forsaid openlng, an auxiliary slag pocket at a lower level than said firstmentioned slag pocket, a drainage connection from the first mentionedslag pocket to the/auxiliary slag pocket, there beingnan opening in thewall of the auxiliary slag pocket giving access to said auxiliary slagpocket, a suitable closure for said opening, and means for introducingfuel into the first mentioned slag pocket for the purpose specified.

3 The method of draining a slag pocket which consists in introducingfuel and flux materials directly into said slag pocket for the purposeof maintaining the desired temperature within said slag pocket, andwhich consists in draining molten materials from the slag pocket withoutinterruption to the operation of the furnace.

4. The method of draining a slag pocket which consists in introducingfuel and the like directly into the slag pocket in such manner and insuch quantities as to maintain the desired temperature within the slagpocket, while at the same time consuming free oxygen prior to the entrythereof into the down-comer.

5. The method of draining a slag pocket which consists in introducinfuel directly (Y yinto said slag pocket for the purpose of maintainingthe desired temperature Within said slag pocket, and which consists indraining molten materials from the slag pocket Without interruption tothe operation of the furnace.

6. The method of draining a slag pocket which consists in introducingflux materials directly into said slag pocket for the purpose -ofmaintaining the materials in molten cond1tion within said slag pocket,and which consists in draining the molten materials from the slagpocket' Without interruption to the operation of the furnace.

7. The method of removing slag and the like from the down-comer of 'afurnace which consists in collecting slag aiid the like in moltencondition forla desired interval of time in a slag pocket, 'and whichconsists in thereafter permitting said materials to drain intoanotlierauxiliary slag pocket for removal purposes.

8. -The method of removing slag materials and the like from thedowncomer of a furnace which consists in'v collecting said materials inthe lower end of the downcom'er until they havereached a desiredelevation,

and which consists in thereafter draining Subsequently accumulatedmaterials from above said elevation while maintaining within said lowerend the materials accumulated therein up to said elevation.

9.- The method of removing slag materials and the like from thedowncomer` of a furnace which consists in accumulating said -materialswithin the4 lower portion of the down-comer until a desiredelevation of'the materials has been reached, and which consists in thereafterremoving additional ma.- terials collecting above said elevation whilemaintaining within said lowerl end the materials accumulated therein upto said ele- `ration.

l0.. e combination with the down-comer of an open-hearth furnace, of aslag pocket within said down-comer, 'there being an openingin the outerwall giving communi'- cation with said slag pocket, a suitable closurefor said opening, an auxiliary slag pocket 'at 'a' lower level than saidlirst named slag pocket, a drainage connection from the rst mentionedslag pocket to the auxiliary sla pocket, there being an opening in thewal of the auxiliary slag pocket giving access to said auxiliaryI slagpocket, and a suitable closure for said opening, substantially asdescribed.

1l. The method of draining a slag pocket Apocket locally to roduce localheat at the point of drainage rom the main slag pocket into an auxiliaryslag pocket at a lower level. 12. The method of -draining a slag pocketwhich consists in introducing fuel into said pocket locally to roducelocal heat at the point of drainage rom the main slag pocket into anauxiliary slag pocket at a lower level, said auxiliary pocket having alower temperature than the main pocket.

13. The method of draining a slag pocket which consists in introducingfuel thereinto to supplement the operation temperature to causeadditional heat localized to the point of drainage from the said mainslag pocket -into another slag pocket.

14. The method f draining aslag pocket which consistsin introducing fuelthereinto to supplement the operationv temperature to cause additionalheat -localized to the point of drainage from the said main slag pocketinto another slag pocket, said other pocket having a lower temperaturethan the temperature of the main pocket.

l5. The method of draining a sla pocket which consists in introducingfuelt ereinto to supplement the operation temperatulre to causeadditional heat localized to the point of drainage from said slag pocketinto another slag pocket, said other slag lpocket having a temperaturebelow the lluxof drainage from said slag pocket into ari-- other slagpocket, to cause the practical sep-l aration for removal purposes ofslag from a main slag pocket into a secondary slag pocket.

17. The method of draining a slagpocket which consists in introducingfuel thereinto to supplement the operation temperature to causeadditional heat localized to the point of drainage from said slag pocketto permit removal of the slag therefrom without adhering to the walls ofthe pocket.

RTH..

